Hydraulic borehole mining system and method

Abstract

A hydraulic borehole mining system controlled and operated above-ground includes a high-pressure cutting nozzle that is delivered to an underground resource body through a relatively small diameter borehole. A series of water and air fluid streams at various pressures are delivered to the resource body, and the target resource is disaggregated and/or fluidized and conveyed back to surface via the hydraulic borehole mining pipe which serves as the conveyor of the system. The mining pipe is used to transport a high-pressure stream of combined air and water fluids that have been directed and aligned into laminar flow to a focused water jet cutting head. The central bore of the mining pipe brings the slurrified resource to the surface. The mining pipe transports the slurry via hydraulic airlift, fluid eduction or both.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for economically mining subterranean resource in situ comprising the steps of:
 a) drilling a surface hole into subsurface material to access the target resource;   b) injecting high pressure fluid via a borehole mining tool into the resource, thereby forming a high pressure fluid jet to disaggregate the subsurface material and creating a slurry of solids and fluid;   c) injecting air or fluid into the shroud to encapsulate and accelerate the high pressure fluid jet;   d) injecting a high volume of water at low pressure into the slurry to mix with and transport the slurry;   e) injecting gas into an airlift sub to create suction whereby the slurry is lifted to the surface; and   f) separating solids and water at the surface.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of placing the high pressure fluid in a laminar flow. 
     
     
         3 . A borehole mining system for horizontal mining of resources, comprising:
 a mining pipe with multiple passages, at least one of said passage being a high pressure section for redirecting a high pressure fluid water through the system;   said high pressure section including a first section with a pair of interior vanes positioned perpendicular to each other, said interior vanes establishing a laminar flow of said fluid within said first section;   A second section connected to said first section for receiving the laminar flow, and turning the laminar flow to a different direction, said second section including a plurality of adjacent passageways, each of said adjacent passageways conveying a different volume of said fluid, whereby the laminar flow of said fluid is maintained in its flow through the second section.   
     
     
         4 . The borehole mining system of  claim 3  wherein the plurality of adjacent passageways in said second section are in parallel. 
     
     
         5 . The borehole mining system of  claim 3  wherein an interior of said passageways carries less volume of fluid than the adjacent passageway. 
     
     
         6 . The borehole mining system of  claim 3  wherein said interior vanes form four laminar flow chambers. 
     
     
         7 . The borehole mining system of  claim 3  wherein said interior vanes are replaceable. 
     
     
         8 . The borehole mining system of  claim 3  wherein said passageways are formed by replaceable blades. 
     
     
         9 . The borehole mining system of  claim 3  wherein said second section has an interior passageway and an exterior passageway, said interior passageway being shorter in length than said external passageway.